Stiffener for dipper sticks



March 4, 192:4; 1,485,633

W. C. SHEA STIFFENER FOR DIPPER STICKS Filed Dec. 6, 1922 Patented Mar. 4, W24.

SIFS

WILLIAM G. SHEA, OF SAN ANSELIVIO, CALIFORNIA.

STIFFENER FOR DIPTPER STICKS.

Application filed December To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM C. SHEA, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of San Anselmo, county of Marin, State of California, have invented a new and useful Stiffener for Dipper Sticks, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in dipper sticks such as are commonly used in connection with steam shovels or the like for holding and operating the scoop bucket. Dipper sticks of this character are usually made of two heavy bars or rectangular beams disposed in spaced and parallel relation, with the bucket secured to the front ends of the bars. The rear ends of these bars are, in certain types of steam not connected with one another so of free play of a bucket actuating cable or chain between the same, but it often happens that due to this loose construction the two bars become twisted owing to the heavy strains and stresses to which they are subjected and in the latter case they not infrequently interfere with the proper operation of the steam shovel by striking other members of the latter, as for instance guys employed for the support of the boom in which the dipper sticks travel. It also happens that the cable or chain jumps out of the track formed by the two bars and instead of traveling between the two bars shovels, as to allow rides along the outside of one of them there- 1 by increasing the twisting stresses and lessening the efficiency of the steam shovel.

My invention contemplates the provision of a reinforcing member or stiffener for the rear end of the dipper stick constructed in such a manner as not to interfere with the proper operation of the cable or chain but so as to firmly hold the bars in their original position and to prevent the cable from leaving the space enclosed by the bar.

The preferred form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 represents a side view of a dipper stick having my stifi'ener attached thereto, some of the portions of the steam shovel being shown in their cooperative relation, Figure 2 a top plan view of the rear end a of dipper stick having stiffener at tached thereto, Figure 3 a side view of the same, and Figure 4 a rear view of the same. WVhile I have shown only the preferred form of the invention, it should be understood that various changes may be made 6, 1922. Serial No. 605,216.

within the scope of the claims hereto at-.. tached without departing from the, spirit of the invention.

The dipper stick (1), which is shown in the drawing as riding within the boom (2) of a steam shovel not shown in the drawing and as supporting at its front end the scoop bucket (3), consists of two bars or beams (4:), rectangular in cross-section, and disposedin parallel and spaced relation to one another. The present invention concerns only the rear end of the dipper stick and more particularly the stiffener provided for the same. The same comprises in its essential parts a shoe (7) for each bar (4:) and a rigid member (8) extending rearwardly for connecting the two shoes so as to firmly hold them in their originalposition. The latter member is so constructed as to clear the continuation of the space enclosed by the bars so as to allow the cable (9) used for the operation of the bucket to work freely between the bars while preventing it from leaving the path assigned to the same.

The particular construction of the shoes as well as of the connecting member is, of course, subject to many changes in minor details and while the structure designed for the purposes of this illustration offers many desirable features, I wish t o have it understood that I consider the details of construction only as one embodiment of the princiales involved.

The shoes preferably enclose the end of the bars from three sides, including the top (11), the bottom (12) and the outside (13) while lying against the ends as shown at (14). The top members (11) of the shoes extend rearwardly, as at (16), slanting u wardly and converging so as to meet in t e center'at (17). The extensions are braced on top by the webs (18) extending from the upper outside edges of the shoes and on their lower faces by webs (19) extending rearwardly from the inner end edges of the shoes. The latter webs meet at a central line rearwardly of the dipper stick and are formed to clear the space controlled by the bars of the dipper stick so as to allow the cable (9) to freely play between the bars even in the extreme position shown in Figure 1. To further strengthen the stiffener I provide transverse webs (21) between the extensions (16) of the top plates and the webs (19).

The shoes are secured to the ends of the bars in any suitable manner, preferably by vertical bolts (22) and transverse bolts (23). Near the end of the dipper stick are usually provided horns for limiting the forward thrust of the dipper stick. Where my stiliener is used these horns may be cast into one piece with the stiffener as shown at (24) and reinforced by a bracing web (26).

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a dipper stick consisting of two parallel bars disposed in spaced relation and means for stiffening the same, comprising a metal shoe for the rear end ofi each bar and a rear wardly extending element connecting the two shoes, said element being formed to clear the continuation of the space enclosed by the bars.

2. In a device of the character described, a dipper stick consisting of two parallel bars disposed in spaced relation and means for stiffening the same, comprising a metal shoe for the rear end of each bar and a rearwardly extending element connecting the two shoes, said element comprising upwardly slanting extensions of the top members of the shoes converging to meet on a central line.

3. In a device of the character described, a dipper stick consisting of two parallel bars disposed in spaced relation and means for stiflening the same, comprising a metal shoe for the rear end of each bar and a rearwardly extending element connecting the two shoes, said element comprising upwardly slanting extensions of the top members of the shoes converging to meet on a central line, and bracing members extending from the ends of the shoes.

4. In a device of the character described, a dipper stick consisting of two parallel bars disposed in spaced relation and means for stiiiening the same, comprising a metal shoe for the rear end of each bar and a rear wardly extending element connecting the two shoes, said element comprising upwardly slanting extensions of the top members of the shoes converging to meet on a central line, and bracing webs extending from the inner rear edges of the shoes.

emes 5. In a device of the character described, a dipper stick consisting of two parallel bars disposed in spaced relation and means for stiffening the same, comprising a metal shoe for the rear end of each bar and a rearwardly extending element connecting the two shoes, said element comprising upwardly slanting extensions of the top members of the shoes converging to meet on a central line, and bracing webs extending from the inner rear edges of the shoes, with transverse reinforcing webs connecting the extensions and the bracing webs.

6. In a device or" the character described, a dipper stick consisting of two parallel bars disposed in spaced relation and means for stiffening the for the rear end or each bar and a rearwardly extending element connecting the two shoes, saideleinent comprising upwardly slanting extensions of the top members of the shoes converging to meet on a central line, and bracing members for the same extending from the outer top edges and the inner rear edges of the shoes.

7 In a device of the character described, a dipper stick consisting of two parallel bars disposed in spaced relation and means for stiii'ening the same, comprising a metal shoe for the rear end of each bar and a rearwardly extending element connecting the two, shoes, said element comprising upwardly slanting extensions of the top members of the shoes converging to meet on a central line, and bracing webs for the Same extending from the outer top edges and the inner rear edges of the shoes with transverse reinforcing webs connecting the extensions and the latter bracing webs.

8. In a device of the character described, a dipper stick consisting of two parallel bars disposed in spaced relation and means for stii'i'ening the same, comprising a metal shoe for the rearend of each bar, a rearwardly extending element connecting the two shoes, a downwardly extending horn for limiting the forward thrust of the dipper stick and a bracing web supporting the same.

WILLIAM G. snna.

same, comprising a metal shoe 

